Mortgage Learning Center

Our experts are committed to helping you understand the home buying & financing process, including mortgages, so that you can make smarter decisions. We’ve pulled together answers to your important mortgage questions, including tips on how to approach shopping for a home loan as well as how to get the best rates & deals. Learn how to select a mortgage lender & real estate agent, negotiate the best price, and best time a refinancing. Plus, understand how mortgage decisions can affect your credit score. Use Credit.com’s free credit report card to find out where you stand today.

If you’re buying a home with a conventional loan and a low down payment, you may be expected to pay an additional cost: private mortgage insurance. PMI protects your mortgage lender in the event that you stop making payments on your home loan. Your lender may require you to pay for PMI – in addition […] Read More

Selling your own home can be tempting — after all, a real estate agent’s commission can be pricey and if you’re a homeowner who is already struggling to keep up with your mortgage, every penny of your home’s sale price may count. Are you tempted to put a “for sale by owner” (FSBO) sign on […] Read More

When you buy a home that is part of a homeowners association, you agree to live according to the association’s rules and pay a fee (often monthly) that contributes to the overall maintenance and management of the community. Living in a neighborhood with a homeowners association has its advantages and disadvantages. Before you buy a […] Read More

Your credit score plays a role in the homeowners insurance premium that you will pay once you purchase a home. Insurance companies use information in your credit report to calculate an insurance score. (You can see your credit reports for free once a year.) Similar to a credit score, insurance companies use insurance scores to […] Read More

An interest-only mortgage delivers low monthly payments for several years. That may sound great, but does it make sense for you? In the first few years of an interest-only mortgage, you only are required to pay the interest portion of a home loan. And this means years of very low, rock-bottom mortgage payments. The interest-only […] Read More

Buying a foreclosed house can be an affordable way to buy a home. But first, here are four things to consider before you start shopping. Get Help From a Real Estate Broker Who Specializes in Foreclosed Homes Some real estate brokers and agents have relationships with banks, and broker the selling of the banks’ foreclosed […] Read More

Short selling allows you to avoid foreclosure on a home. Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid the damage a short sale does to your credit score. A short sale can knock as much as 160 points off your credit score. Like a foreclosure, a short sale is considered a derogatory item and it will […] Read More

Are you getting ready to sell your home, but wonder if it will affect your credit? Selling your home could impact your credit in a few key ways. Let’s take a look… Impact On Your Payment History Having a mortgage with a positive payment history is a big plus for your credit. When you sell […] Read More

Looking for a way to refinance your home when you have bad or blemished credit? You do have refinancing options and you don’t need perfect credit to qualify. Check Out HARP 2 One option to consider is HARP 2, the revamped federal Home Affordable Refinance Program. There are no loan-to-value restrictions in this refinancing program. […] Read More

When it comes to buying a real estate investment property, the first deal is the hardest. I know this from personal experience. I kept talking about buying a rental property for several years until my husband finally took the initiative, found a property, and made me buy it. Read More

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